Dorothy "Cherry" Groce was left in a wheelchair when a police marksman
shot her through the lung and spine

Scotland Yard has publicly apologised for shooting a mother of six in her own home in 1985.

Cherry Groce, who was left in a wheelchair when a marksman shot her through the lung and spine, died in 2011 - 26 years after she was told she would only live for another decade.

Her shooting sparked the 1985 Brixton riots, during which shops were looted, cars destroyed and fires started.

The area was “out of police control” for two days, with rioters hurling petrol bombs and bricks at officers, and Telegraph photo-journalist David Hodge died as a result of injuries sustained by a gang of looters.

Although the Metropolitan Police privately offered condolences to Mrs Groce’s family last year, the apology is the first time the force has publicly said sorry.

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Mrs Groce was shot during a raid on her home in search of one of her sons on suspicion of armed robbery, for which he was charged but later acquitted at trial.

Her inquest is due to take place this summer and documents obtained by Channel 4 News reveal that a pathologist for the family and a pathologist for the police both concluded that there is a causal link between the shooting and her death.

The programme also revealed the Met paid more than £500,000 in compensation to Mrs Groce, but with no admission of liability. However, the secret 400 page report which has emerged may suggest otherwise, it was reported.

Inspector Douglas Lovelock, the marksman who shot her, stood trial in 1987 charged with inflicting unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm, and was acquitted. There was no disciplinary action taken against him.

It was also reported the family is facing another battle, to be granted Legal Aid, after they were refused funds on the grounds there are no new issues.

A spokesman for the Met said following Mrs Groce’s death in April 2011, Commander Neil Basu met her son and offered our condolences. He also took the opportunity to apologise for the shooting of Mrs Groce in 1985.

Cmdr Basu said "There is no doubt that the Met were responsible for the injuries to Mrs Groce in 1985 and it is only right that her family receives an apology. I am happy to for it to be know publicly that I met with her son in July last year and offered him and his family an apology on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service."